This report was published on YouTube on April 23.
Friday, April 24, 2020
The Hard-Working Heroes Who Are Doing Some of the Toughest Jobs During the Pandemic
This report was published on YouTube on April 23.
Grocery Store Chain Announces Initiative to Purchase Surplus Produce from Local Farmers
This report was published on YouTube on April 23.
COVID-19 Patient Reunites with Doctor Who Helped Save Her Life
This report was published on YouTube on April 23.
Students Attend Graduation Ceremony Remotely with the Help of a Robot
This report was published on YouTube on April 22.
Taraji P. Henson Takes on Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic
This report was published on YouTube on April 21.
Employees Volunteer to Live at Work for 28 Days to Help Make Protective Equipment
This report was published on YouTube on April 21.
New York City to Distribute 500,000 Free Halal Meals During Ramadan
Mayor Bill de Blasio says city is also providing Kosher meals for Jews as thousands lose jobs amid coronavirus pandemic.
Click here for the report.
Source: Middle East Eye
Woman in 'Survival Mode' Becomes Personal Shopper for Residents Hungry for Groceries
This report was published on YouTube on April 23.
Iconic Harlem Restaurants Step Up to Feed Front-Line Workers
This report was published on YouTube on April 23.
Wednesday, April 22, 2020
Overwhelmed Morgue Workers Struggle to Give Coronavirus Victims Death With Dignity
By Sharon Lerner
While protesters were railing against coronavirus lockdowns and Republican governors in Georgia, South Carolina, and Tennessee announced plans to open back up their states, Devin Speak was loading bodies onto a refrigerated truck in Brooklyn. A veteran of the U.S. Coast Guard who distributed food and water in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria, Speak is one of thousands of first responders who have volunteered to help New York City through the Covid-19 crisis, which continues to test the city’s ability to care for both its living and its dead.
While protesters were railing against coronavirus lockdowns and Republican governors in Georgia, South Carolina, and Tennessee announced plans to open back up their states, Devin Speak was loading bodies onto a refrigerated truck in Brooklyn. A veteran of the U.S. Coast Guard who distributed food and water in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria, Speak is one of thousands of first responders who have volunteered to help New York City through the Covid-19 crisis, which continues to test the city’s ability to care for both its living and its dead.
Click here for the full report.
Source: The Intercept_
Pandemics, Climate Crisis and the Turbulent Future
From Arundhati Roy:
(I was recently asked to speak on a zoom call about the subject of
“pandemics, climate change and extinctions” Since I knew very little
about pandemics before COVID-19, I spent hours studying relevant
articles I have saved over the last 45 days. I then put together the
main content for that presentation in the form of quotes from these
articles. Below is that compilation, followed by my thoughts about what
we should be anticipating and doing given our current reality of
economic recession/depression, piled on top of a worldwide pandemic,
piled on top of accelerating climate change, piled on massive inequality
and the systemic injustice and devastation caused by our capitalist
economic system.)
“Nothing could be worse than a return to normality.
“Historically, pandemics have forced humans to break with the past
and imagine their world anew. This one is no different. It is a portal, a
gateway between one world and the next.
“We can choose to walk through it, dragging the carcasses of our
prejudice and hatred, our avarice, our data banks and dead ideas, our
dead rivers and smoky skies behind us. Or we can walk through lightly,
with little luggage, ready to imagine another world. And ready to fight
for it.”
Where did the COVID-19 come from?
Most immediately, it came from bats and/or other wild animals
infected by them in the city of Wuhan in China, population 11 million.
It was likely spread from the sale of wild animals for eating in an open
market, possibly/probably with unsanitary conditions.
But this COVID-19 outbreak isn’t a unique situation, though the rapid
spread of it all over the world is. What happened in Wuhan emerged out
of what has been developing there and elsewhere for decades.
“While the virus was certainly not engineered in a laboratory, this
doesn’t mean we haven’t played a role in the current pandemic. Human
impingement on natural habitats, biodiversity loss and ecosystem
degradation are making virus spillover events much more likely, a major new study from scientists in Australia and the US has found.
“The number of emerging infectious disease outbreaks has more than tripled every decade since the 1980s. More than two thirds of these diseases originate in animals, and about 70% of those come from wild animals. Many of the infectious diseases we’re familiar with — Ebola, HIV, swine and avian flu — are zoonotic.
Click here for the full article.
Source: tedglick.com
'For Venezuela, Low Oil Prices Definitely Means Trouble'
FRANCE 24 English: The crash in oil prices could turn #Venezuela into a bargaining chip in U.S.-Russia negotiations, Rystad Energy analyst Paola Rodriguez-Masiu tells The France 24 Debate. The only potential bright spot she sees is if the drying up of oil revenue forces the government of Nicolas Maduro and the opposition to sit down at the bargaining table.
PM Trudeau Announces $9B Aid for Students, Including Monthly Benefit
Coverage begins at the 1:50 mark.
Hero's Send-Off for Out-of-State Medical Workers Who Helped NY COVID-19 Patients
From The G-Man and The G-Man Interviews salute all the medical workers who traveled to New York City to help our medical teams and ailing residents. Thank you, and safe travels.
NYC EMT Idris Bey Dies of Coronavirus, Becoming 8th Active FDNY Member Killed by Pandemic
The New York Daily News: The 27-year veteran took part in rescue and recovery efforts at Ground
Zero and since 2002 had been assigned to the FDNY’s EMS Bureau of
Training.
Click here for the report.
Lyft, National Action Network to Provide Transportation to Seniors and Underserved Residents
New York, NY -
Civil
rights leader Rev. Al Sharpton and National Action Network announced
today that in partnership with Lyft, they will provide access to
transportation for senior and underserved residents
in six markets in urban areas across the country.
The partnership is
part of
LyftUp, Lyft’s comprehensive
effort to expand transportation access to those who need it most. In
response to the COVID-19 crisis, Lyft has activated more than 500
partners through LyftUp. This includes
efforts in collaboration with
public health entities, local governments, nonprofits and community
organizations to create new opportunities for drivers, provide rides to
those in need, and help distribute essential
goods.
Using
a specialized code in the Lyft app, National Action Network members
will have access to ride credit for rides to and from essential
locations including
supermarkets, medical appointments and to receive food at NAN’s
distribution centers effective today through April 30, 2020.
The participating NAN Chapters are in Harlem, New York; Newark, New Jersey; Detroit, Michigan; Los Angeles, California;
Miami, Florida; and Irvington, New Jersey.
“The
ride codes will help our members in essential services and on the front
line get where they need to go during this unprecedented time,” said
Reverend
Al Sharpton, founder of the National Action Network. “By lifting at
least one burden, Lyft is making it easier for them when they go to get
groceries or help their family members who may need extra assistance
while the quarantine continues.”
“We
want to increase access to transportation for those who need it,
particularly to meet their essential needs during this time. By
activating LyftUp,
we’re able to partner with National Action Network to fill mobility
needs for seniors and for low-income residents participating in the NAN
meal distribution service in the wake of COVID-19,” said Lisa Boyd,
Director of Social Impact, Lyft. “We’re also grateful
to all those who drive with Lyft for helping provide rides for those in
need. Lyft will be supporting drivers by creating new opportunities to
help them earn additional income through the Lyft app and continuously
working to protect their safety.”
To make sure riders and drivers know the best ways to protect themselves and those around them, Lyft is providing continuous updates. To learn more about how else Lyft is supporting its community during this time, visit its blog.
Source: Amaris Cockfield
Tuesday, April 21, 2020
We Can't Go Back to Normal. Now is the Time to Move Forward with 'Reparations'.
By Rev. Willie Brisco, President of WISDOM
As the COVID-19 pandemic wears on we are hearing a lot of talk about when things will "go back to normal." Some say it will be a few weeks; some say a few months; some say it will be deep into 2021. We know, though, that if we stand together we can use this time to do much better than that.
As WISDOM, we do not want things to go back to the way they were. This health crisis has exposed some ugly truths that were there long before the virus. COVID-19 has revealed the massive racial and economic disparities that many seemed not to have noticed before. The pandemic made it apparent that we already had politicians who are so partisan as to prioritize electoral advantage over the health and lives of their fellow citizens. We had way too many people in our prisons long before the current crisis, and prison was already an inappropriate, unhealthy place for very many of them.
People who are shocked by the disproportionate damage COVID-19 has done in low-income communities and among people of color think now is the time to ask, "why?" We know why. And, we have known it for a long time. Now is the time to act.
Now is the time to move forward with "reparations" -- to take steps to remedy the systematic exclusion and oppression of African-American people. It is the time to give a pathway to citizenship to millions of undocumented workers who have been deemed "essential" and have been asked to risk their health to keep our country going. As we recognize our dependence on delivery workers, grocery store workers, nursing home workers, janitors, and so many other low-wage workers, we need to see that it is time to pay every worker a living wage of at least $15/hour. Now is the time to restore our democracy and guarantee once and for all that every citizen have the right to vote in every election without undue burdens or dangers. Now is the time to act boldly and to permanently cut our prison population, at least by half.
As the pandemic wanes, which it inevitably will, please do not celebrate a return to "normal." This is the time for people of faith and good will to stand together to demand and to build a new normal, one that builds on the compassion we have also seen revealed by so many in these days. We need to step up in this historic moment to demand a state and a nation that truly values the lives of all its people.
As WISDOM, we do not want things to go back to the way they were. This health crisis has exposed some ugly truths that were there long before the virus. COVID-19 has revealed the massive racial and economic disparities that many seemed not to have noticed before. The pandemic made it apparent that we already had politicians who are so partisan as to prioritize electoral advantage over the health and lives of their fellow citizens. We had way too many people in our prisons long before the current crisis, and prison was already an inappropriate, unhealthy place for very many of them.
People who are shocked by the disproportionate damage COVID-19 has done in low-income communities and among people of color think now is the time to ask, "why?" We know why. And, we have known it for a long time. Now is the time to act.
Now is the time to move forward with "reparations" -- to take steps to remedy the systematic exclusion and oppression of African-American people. It is the time to give a pathway to citizenship to millions of undocumented workers who have been deemed "essential" and have been asked to risk their health to keep our country going. As we recognize our dependence on delivery workers, grocery store workers, nursing home workers, janitors, and so many other low-wage workers, we need to see that it is time to pay every worker a living wage of at least $15/hour. Now is the time to restore our democracy and guarantee once and for all that every citizen have the right to vote in every election without undue burdens or dangers. Now is the time to act boldly and to permanently cut our prison population, at least by half.
As the pandemic wanes, which it inevitably will, please do not celebrate a return to "normal." This is the time for people of faith and good will to stand together to demand and to build a new normal, one that builds on the compassion we have also seen revealed by so many in these days. We need to step up in this historic moment to demand a state and a nation that truly values the lives of all its people.
The 2020 Simon Wiesenthal Center Yom Hashoah Commemoration
This special program features tributes to Holocaust Survivors who have volunteered for decades and shared their experiences with visitors at the Museum of Tolerance, poignant remarks by Rabbi Hier and others, and film clips from Moriah Films’ I Have Never Forgotten You and Liberation narrated by Nicole Kidman, Sir Ben Kingsley and Sir Patrick Stewart.
Click here to watch the event in its entirety.
Source: SWC
The Rev. Dr. Charles Atkins Jr. Appointed to Major Position at Sing Sing Correctional Facility
New York, NY – New York Theological Seminary has announced the appointment
of Dr. Charles Atkins, Jr. as the Director of the Master of
Professional
Studies program at Sing Sing Correctional Facility. Dr. Atkins joins
the core faculty, bringing with him close to two decades of experience
working in ministry, prisons, and academia.
Dr.
Atkins is fluent in French and proficient in Spanish, and he brings
experience in spiritual empowerment and the socio-economic development
of people in Central America, Africa, Europe, and the Caribbean.
"We
are elated by the addition of Dr. Charles Atkins to the NYTS family. He
is a vibrant theological thinker and leader who brings to our faculty
an exceptional set of talents", said Dr. Tamara Henry. We look forward
to the significant contributions he will make as a part of the NYTS
community."
Dr.
Atkins served as an ordained minister and full-time Chaplain with the
New Jersey Department of Corrections. For over 20 years at the Garden
State Youth Correctional Facility, he developed and maintained
programs of overcoming inner and outer violence through the practical
application of spiritual principles methods for incarcerated youth and
young adults. Through this work, he also provided mentor
training for faith-based groups interested in working with returning
citizens.
"I
am excited to welcome Dr. Charles Atkins, Jr. to the NYTS team," said
President Dr. LaKeesha Walrond. "His experience as both an academician
and practitioner is the perfect fit for our MPS students and our
Seminary at-large. I look forward to working with him and eagerly
anticipate his leadership and expertise in this role."
Dr.
Atkins holds a Bachelor of Arts from Haverford College, two master's
degrees from Princeton Theological Seminary, and a doctorate from
the University of Montreal. His doctoral research focused on those
necessary elements that make religious practices effective in leading a
person to spiritual renewal of consciousness while incarcerated. His
work centers on religious practice in incarcerated
communities and is summarized in his forthcoming book, The Word
Confined: Bible Study in an American Prison. (Nova Science Publishers,
2020).
Source: Amaris Cockfield
Elective Outpatient Treatment Can Resume Without Significant Risk of COVID-19 Surge
Earlier today,
Governor Andrew Cuomo announced elective outpatient treatments can
resume in counties and hospitals without significant risk of COVID-19
surge in the near term. Hospitals will be able to resume performing
elective outpatient treatments on April 28, 2020 if the hospital
capacity is over 25 percent for the county and if there have been fewer
than 10 new hospitalizations of COVID-19 patients in the county over the
past 10 days. If a hospital is located in a county eligible to resume
elective outpatient treatments, but that hospital has a capacity under
25 percent or has had more than 10 new hospitalizations in the past 10
days, that hospital is not eligible to resume elective surgeries. If a
county or hospital that has resumed elective surgery experiences a
decrease in hospital capacity below the 25 percent threshold or an
increase of 10 or more new hospitalizations of COVID-19 patients,
elective surgeries must cease. Further, patients must test negative for
COVID-19 prior to any elective outpatient treatment. The State
Department of Health will issue guidance on resuming elective surgeries.
Restrictions on elective surgery will remain in place in Bronx, Queens, Rockland, Nassau, Clinton, Yates, Westchester, Albany, Richmond, Schuyler, Kings, Suffolk, New York, Dutchess, Sullivan, Ulster, Erie, Orange and Rensselaer Counties as the state continues to monitor the rate of new COVID-19 infections in the region.
Governor Cuomo also announced the state will take a regional approach to reopening and will make decisions on which counties and regions to open and when to open them based on the facts and data specific to that area. Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul will coordinate Western New York's public health and reopening strategy, and former Lieutenant Governor Robert Duffy will volunteer as a special advisor to coordinate the Finger Lakes' public health and reopening strategy.
Source: The Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo
Restrictions on elective surgery will remain in place in Bronx, Queens, Rockland, Nassau, Clinton, Yates, Westchester, Albany, Richmond, Schuyler, Kings, Suffolk, New York, Dutchess, Sullivan, Ulster, Erie, Orange and Rensselaer Counties as the state continues to monitor the rate of new COVID-19 infections in the region.
Governor Cuomo also announced the state will take a regional approach to reopening and will make decisions on which counties and regions to open and when to open them based on the facts and data specific to that area. Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul will coordinate Western New York's public health and reopening strategy, and former Lieutenant Governor Robert Duffy will volunteer as a special advisor to coordinate the Finger Lakes' public health and reopening strategy.
Source: The Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo
Beware of COVID-19 Scams Tied to Federal Economic Impact Payments
The New York State Division of Consumer Protection (DCP) is alerting consumers about scammers
taking advantage of COVID-19. Scammers are sending phishing emails,
texts, phone calls and social media to try to steal economic impact
payments and your personal information. Consumers are reminded that it’s important to stay vigilant and aware of unsolicited communications asking for your personal or private information.
“While much of New York State has been on ‘PAUSE’ in the midst of
this unprecedented public health crisis, unscrupulous scammers have been
hard at work preying on unsuspecting New Yorkers,” said Secretary of State Rossana Rosado. “I urge all New Yorkers to be extra diligent and follow simple steps to keep your money and personal identity safe.”
New York State Commissioner of Taxation and Finance Michael Schmidt said, “Taxpayers
and tax preparers must be especially wary during this unprecedented
time. Cyber thieves are asking taxpayers or tax preparers to verify
banking information via a phone call or link that goes to a fake
website, where unsuspecting victims enter their private information.
These are classic phone scam and phishing scheme tactics that can be
avoided by following a few simple tips. For the most up-to-date
information on the Economic Impact Payments, and to support Governor
Cuomo’s awareness campaign, the Tax Department has launched an Economic Impact Payment information: what you need to know web page and is doing direct outreach to taxpayers who may not automatically receive the payments they're owed.”
Interim New York State Office of Information Technology Services Chief Information Officer Jeremy M. Goldberg said,
“Under Governor Cuomo's leadership, NYS has recognized and responded to
the very real and emerging cyber threats impacting New Yorkers,
including by safeguarding your personal information, minimizing our
risk, and bringing you the latest best practices in cyber hygiene. New
Yorkers should be wary of anyone who calls, texts, or emails them
claiming to share COVID-19 information from the IRS, and instead should
follow the suggested tips on our ‘Stay Cyber Safe’ website.”
What You Need to Know about Economic Impact Payments
On March 27, 2020, Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and
Economic Security Act (CARES Act) to help individuals that are
negatively impacted by the coronavirus epidemic. An important component
of individual relief, Economic Impact Payments, have already started
being issued to New Yorkers from the IRS.
You don’t need to take any action to automatically receive your stimulus payment if you:
filed a 2018 or 2019 tax return and are eligible; or
received one of these benefits (unless claiming a qualifying child under age 17):
- Social Security retirement benefits and survivor benefits
- Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits and survivor benefits
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits
- Railroad Retirement and survivor benefits
- Veterans Administration compensation (disability, death benefits etc.) or retirement benefits
While most people will receive their payment automatically, if you otherwise have not filed taxes recently, you may
need to submit a simple Federal tax return to get your check. For more
information on the Economic Impact Payments, New Yorkers should visit
the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance at Economic Impact Payment information: what you need to know or the IRS at Economic Impact Payments.
Below are tips to help keep your economic impact payment and personal information safe from scammers:
- Rely on trusted sites for information. Visit legitimate, government websites—for up-to-date, fact-based information about COVID-19. Visit the IRS website directly for the latest information on the economic impact payments. Remember, the government will never call to ask for your Social Security number, bank account, or credit card number.
- Delete emails asking you for personal information to receive an economic stimulus check. Government agencies are not sending unsolicited emails seeking your private information in order to send you money.
- Avoid clicking on links in unsolicited emails and be wary of email attachments. See Using Caution with Email Attachments and Avoiding Social Engineering and Phishing Scams for more information.
- Don’t provide personal or banking information. Scammers may ask by phone, email, text or social media for verification of personal and/or banking information saying that the information is needed to receive or speed up your economic impact payment.
- Do not agree to sign over your economic impact payment check. Scammers may ask you to sign over your stimulus payment check to them.
- Be wary of bogus checks. Scammers may mail you a bogus check, perhaps in an odd amount, then tell the taxpayer to call a number or verify information online in order to cash it.
- Do not cash unsolicited checks. Scammers use this tactic to get your bank account information, and you will incur fees when the check is found to be insufficient.
- Be aware that scammers are also able to replicate a government agency’s name and phone number on caller ID. It’s important to remember that the IRS will never ask you for your personal information or threaten your benefits by phone call, email, text or social media.
- Hang up on illegal robocallers. If you receive a call about economic impact payment scams, hang up. Don’t press any numbers. The recording might say that pressing a number will let you speak to a live operator or remove you from their call list, but it might lead to more robocalls, instead.
- Notify the IRS if you are contacted by a potential scammer. If you receive an unsolicited email, text or social media attempt that appears to be from the IRS or an organization associated with the IRS, like the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System, notify the IRS at phishing@irs.gov.
- Verify a charity’s authenticity before making donations. Review the Federal Trade Commission’s page on Charity Scams for more information.
- Review CISA Insights on Risk Management for COVID-19 for more information.
With assistance from ITS, the Department of Health continues to
maintain up-to-date “Stay Cyber Safe” tips and active warnings at https://coronavirus.health.
Source: The New York State Division of Consumer Protection
Insurance Fraud Action Against Major Opioid Manufacturer
Governor Andrew Cuomo today announced the New York
State Department of Financial Services has initiated administrative
proceedings and filed charges against Mallinckrodt plc and its
subsidiaries, Mallinckrodt LLC and SpecGX LLC. These charges are the
first to be filed in DFS' ongoing investigation into the entities that created and perpetuated the opioid crisis.
"The
worst frauds are those that go beyond individual harm to
institutionalized systemic fraud - and the opioid scheme is no
exception," Governor Cuomo said. "The opioid
manufacturers knew how addictive and dangerous their products were and
they used it as a business model for their own financial gain at the
cost of thousands of human lives and billions of dollars. The damage
they have caused by creating and perpetuating the opioid epidemic that
is devastating our state and nation has been immeasurable, and we are
taking action to ensure these big pharmaceutical companies are held
responsible for their fraudulent practices."
Source: The Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo
COVID-19 Maternity Task Force Launched
Secretary to the Governor Melissa DeRosa and the New York State Council on Women and Girls today announced the creation of a COVID-19 maternity task force to examine the best approach to authorizing and certifying additional dedicated birthing centers in an effort to provide mothers a safe alternative to already stressed hospitals amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The task force will make recommendations to Governor Cuomo by the end of the week.
Click here for details.
Source: The Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo
Monday, April 20, 2020
Stakeholder Briefing: Workers Compensation Board COVID-19 Outbreak Response
The
New York State Workers’ Compensation Board has created a briefing to
inform stakeholders about the Board’s actions in response to the
COVID-19 outbreak. The briefing provides a summary of the actions the
Board has taken to date, with links to more detailed information.
To stay informed, please monitor the Board’s website for updates at wcb.ny.gov. Or, to receive notifications via text or to your inbox, sign up for WCB Notifications.
Source: The
New York State Workers’ Compensation Board
Lawsuit Sues China for Six Trillion Dollars in Coronavirus Reparations
60 Minutes Australia
This report was broadcast on April 19.
PM Justin Trudeau Addresses Nova Scotia Shooting Tragedy; House of Commons Returning Amid Pandemic
Coverage begins at the 9:07 mark.
New Yorkers Can Now Apply for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance
The New York State Department of Labor today announced the launch of a new application for New Yorkers to apply for traditional Unemployment Insurance or the new COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Assistance. This one-stop-shop for unemployment benefits will connect New Yorkers with the benefits they deserve faster, without requiring them to call the Department of Labor.
Prior to today, due to cumbersome federal guidelines, New Yorkers were required to apply for regular Unemployment Insurance and be rejected before applying for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance. With this new application, which aligns with updated federal policy, New Yorkers will be able to simply fill out one form to get the correct benefits.
In conjunction with this morning's rollout of the improved application, DOL has been deploying over 3,100 representatives solely dedicated to answering unemployment benefit needs seven days a week. This is up from 400 who previously manned the DOL call center prior to the pandemic.
Since the COVID-19 crisis began, DOL has paid approximately $2.2 billion in Unemployment Insurance benefits to 1.1 million New Yorkers. The application call backlog prior to April 8 has been reduced to 4,305 from 275,000.
"I have been unemployed before myself, and I understand the pain, fear and anxiety New Yorkers are facing. The DOL's mission is to help our neighbors through some of their toughest days, and in the last week we have made great strides in updating our systems," NYS Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon said. "While it appears the coronavirus pandemic is beginning to stabilize — at least from the public health perspective — we know that many New Yorkers are still facing an uncertain economic future, and the Department of Labor will continue to dedicate every resource available to helping New Yorkers weather this storm."
The updated unemployment benefits application system, available here, will determine which unemployment program — unemployment insurance or Pandemic Unemployment Assistance — New Yorkers should apply for and then prompt them to answer a specific set of questions. The application builds on the new online system the department rolled out on Friday, April 10th, in partnership with the State Office of Information Technology Services and Google Cloud, to help manage the exponential and unprecedented increase in new claims resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program, which was included in the Federal CARES Act, provides unemployment benefits for individuals who are ineligible for traditional unemployment insurance. Examples of those covered by PUA include:
Self-employed New Yorkers;
Independent contractors;
New Yorkers who worked for an app-based company (i.e. "gig workers")
Farmers;
Those diagnosed with COVID-19 or who have COVD-19 symptoms and are seeking a diagnosis;
Those living with a household member who has been diagnosed with COVID-19;
Those providing care for a family or household member diagnosed with COVID-19;
A primary caregiver for a child unable to attend school or another facility due to COVID-19;
Those unable to reach their place of employment due to an imposed quarantine or because they have been advised by a medical provider to self-quarantine due to COVID-19;
Those scheduled to commence new employment that cannot reach their workplace as a direct result of COVID-19;
Those who became a major breadwinner because the head of their household died from COVID-19;
Those who quit their job as a direct result of COVID-19;
Those whose place of employment closed as a direct result of COVID-19;
Those with insufficient work history and affected by COVID-19; and
New Yorkers otherwise not qualified for regular or extended UI benefits and affected by COVID-19
In addition, New Yorkers concerned about food insecurity are reminded that resources are available across the state. Anyone looking for assistance can find a local food bank, including those supported by New York State, by visiting Feeding America's website here.
The New York State Department of Labor is dedicated to ensuring that every New Yorker who is entitled to unemployment insurance benefits will receive all benefits due. New Yorkers seeking to file an unemployment insurance claim can click here or call the Telephone Claim Center at (888) 209-8124.
Below are some resources that will assist New Yorkers in filing their claims:
Prior to today, due to cumbersome federal guidelines, New Yorkers were required to apply for regular Unemployment Insurance and be rejected before applying for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance. With this new application, which aligns with updated federal policy, New Yorkers will be able to simply fill out one form to get the correct benefits.
In conjunction with this morning's rollout of the improved application, DOL has been deploying over 3,100 representatives solely dedicated to answering unemployment benefit needs seven days a week. This is up from 400 who previously manned the DOL call center prior to the pandemic.
Since the COVID-19 crisis began, DOL has paid approximately $2.2 billion in Unemployment Insurance benefits to 1.1 million New Yorkers. The application call backlog prior to April 8 has been reduced to 4,305 from 275,000.
"I have been unemployed before myself, and I understand the pain, fear and anxiety New Yorkers are facing. The DOL's mission is to help our neighbors through some of their toughest days, and in the last week we have made great strides in updating our systems," NYS Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon said. "While it appears the coronavirus pandemic is beginning to stabilize — at least from the public health perspective — we know that many New Yorkers are still facing an uncertain economic future, and the Department of Labor will continue to dedicate every resource available to helping New Yorkers weather this storm."
The updated unemployment benefits application system, available here, will determine which unemployment program — unemployment insurance or Pandemic Unemployment Assistance — New Yorkers should apply for and then prompt them to answer a specific set of questions. The application builds on the new online system the department rolled out on Friday, April 10th, in partnership with the State Office of Information Technology Services and Google Cloud, to help manage the exponential and unprecedented increase in new claims resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program, which was included in the Federal CARES Act, provides unemployment benefits for individuals who are ineligible for traditional unemployment insurance. Examples of those covered by PUA include:
Self-employed New Yorkers;
Independent contractors;
New Yorkers who worked for an app-based company (i.e. "gig workers")
Farmers;
Those diagnosed with COVID-19 or who have COVD-19 symptoms and are seeking a diagnosis;
Those living with a household member who has been diagnosed with COVID-19;
Those providing care for a family or household member diagnosed with COVID-19;
A primary caregiver for a child unable to attend school or another facility due to COVID-19;
Those unable to reach their place of employment due to an imposed quarantine or because they have been advised by a medical provider to self-quarantine due to COVID-19;
Those scheduled to commence new employment that cannot reach their workplace as a direct result of COVID-19;
Those who became a major breadwinner because the head of their household died from COVID-19;
Those who quit their job as a direct result of COVID-19;
Those whose place of employment closed as a direct result of COVID-19;
Those with insufficient work history and affected by COVID-19; and
New Yorkers otherwise not qualified for regular or extended UI benefits and affected by COVID-19
In addition, New Yorkers concerned about food insecurity are reminded that resources are available across the state. Anyone looking for assistance can find a local food bank, including those supported by New York State, by visiting Feeding America's website here.
The New York State Department of Labor is dedicated to ensuring that every New Yorker who is entitled to unemployment insurance benefits will receive all benefits due. New Yorkers seeking to file an unemployment insurance claim can click here or call the Telephone Claim Center at (888) 209-8124.
Below are some resources that will assist New Yorkers in filing their claims:
Source: The New York State Department of Labor
Governor Cuomo is a Central Figure in the State’s COVID-19 Nursing Home Crisis
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(AN EXCLUSIVE)
THE G-MAN INTERVIEWS: JACK HALPERN
By Gary Glennell Toms
In an April 18 edition of the New York Daily News, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo called nursing homes "the biggest concern for New York authorities battling the coronavirus pandemic, even as a lower overall total of 540 people died in the past day."
“The relatively lower death toll represents a dip of more than 25% from just a few days ago. But the governor said the still-raging epidemic claimed 36 elderly victims in nursing homes — and still poses a dire threat,” the report stated.
“Nursing homes are the single biggest fear in all of this,” said Governor Cuomo. “Vulnerable people in one place, it is the feeding frenzy for this virus.”
“The relatively lower death toll represents a dip of more than 25% from just a few days ago. But the governor said the still-raging epidemic claimed 36 elderly victims in nursing homes — and still poses a dire threat,” the report stated.
“Nursing homes are the single biggest fear in all of this,” said Governor Cuomo. “Vulnerable people in one place, it is the feeding frenzy for this virus.”
“Nursing homes are the No. 1 long term consequence of this disease,” he added.
My guest for this installment is Jack Halpern, Founder and Chairman of MyEdler, a New York-based elder-rights company. According to Halpern, it’s the only independent advocacy company in the world focused exclusively on the needs of elders. Mr. Halpern has made several appearances on The G-Man Interviews and is here to discuss the surge in COVID-19 deaths at senior care facilities in New York and other states.
The interview was conducted on April 17.
Photo courtesy of Jack Halpern
The interview was conducted on April 17.
Photo courtesy of Jack Halpern